Play a Video Game on Paper

What if you want to play a video game, but can't because you don't have any, or your parents say you can't play them, or your school doesn't allowed it? What if you want play a game in school, in the car or anywhere and your Game Boy is dead? What if your parents are using the TV? Well then, why not play video games when you can make them on paper!

Steps

Creating Your Own Characters

  1. Get a blank piece of paper. It is recommended that you use graph paper, but any paper will do.
  2. Draw some sort of monster on it, but don't fill up the page. I highly recommend to use a pencil so you can erase when he gets hurt. If you have a pen, That is fine.
  3. Give it a name and a health bar.
  4. Draw one or two smaller characters. You can make them up yourself.
  5. Give your character(s) a name and some health bars. Write a 100 above each health bar.
  6. Draw a magic bar or a power bar or whatever you feel like.
  7. Think up some attacks for your characters, and a few for the boss too. They should do varying amounts of damage.The strong ones use magic.
  8. Have one of your characters attack. Subtract the attack value from the enemy
  9. Have the characters take turns attacking. You can play with your characters on the same team, or you can have all three go at it.
  10. Once the boss is down to zero health, you have advanced to Level 2. Reward yourself by unlocking something like Power Armor or Fire Arrow or a new character. One idea is that every level you unlock a Fusion ability, which lets you merge two characters into one.
  11. Once you're on level 2, keep going. There's really no limit in levels--just your imagination.

Using Pokémon Characters

  1. Find or make up a Pokémon character. Draw its 3 evolution stages on a different page.
  2. Do the same for the opponent.
  3. Write up 4 moves, type, Health Points and status.
  4. Use a health bar until one loses. Continue the game with levels and evolution as explained in Method 1.

Tips

  • You can also add the option of classes: for example, an archer or swordsman, assassin, or mage.
  • If you really want, try to add special effects such as Burn and Poison. These might add to the fun.
  • Try playing co-op--you control one character and a friend controls the other or 1-on-1 battle.
  • To make yourself more motivated, plan out attacks for your characters to learn on later levels, like Meteor Smash on Level Five.
  • Really, you don't need to use the exact values mentioned here. You can start with 5 HP and deal 1-2 damage, or whatever. This is your game.
  • Costumes and gear could be a good idea.
  • Roll a dice to see if you hit or miss. To hit, You need to get past the opponents speed.
  • If you have multiple characters, the boss could roll a die to determine who he attacks. Otherwise, he could attack all the active players.
  • Add 10 HP whenever you gain a level. Experiment with different attack powers.
  • Try playing this with a dice. If you get a 2, 3, or 4 you subtract health. If it's a 5 you subtract double the amount of health (like a critical hit) and if it's a 1 or a 6 you miss.
  • Try making cutscenes in the game.
  • To make it more interesting, add a storyline and plot, or whatever you would like to call it.
  • Try playing on a white board. You would be able to erase easily, and have more room to battle.
  • To add a skill element, draw a small circle and a line about 2 centimeters (or an inch) away from each other. When attacking flick the pencil from the line at the target. If it hits the action succeeds. If you use an attack potion make the target bigger or closer and vice versa for a curse, etc.
  • (Optional.) If you lose you have to start again completely.
  • For the Health Bar, make a narrow box but don't fill it. Whenever the character gets hurt color in some of the bar to represent damage or when you use a healing move rub out some damage and when the bar's all colored, well, you're dead.
  • Try using a dry erase board and a marker. It would allow you to not use lots of paper for each scene or level.

Warnings

  • If you're playing with multiple people, remember to play with someone who has an attention span long enough to enjoy the game.
  • Don't make the boss too hard on your first time. You can always level up!
  • If you are at school or your job, don't add sound effects. Bosses and teachers will most likely get upset if they catch you doing this.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • A Friend for 2 Player Co-op (optional)
  • Lots of Imagination - It makes paper-gameplay more exciting

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